As an integral part of the classroom curriculum, Pennsylvania DECA’s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with the National Curriculum Standards in the career clusters of marketing, business management and administration, finance, and hospitality and tourism. Pennsylvania DECA’s flagship evaluation process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report and an interactive component with an industry professional serving as a judge. Pennsylvania DECA’s competitive events directly contribute to every student being college and career ready when they graduate from high school.

Principles of Business Administration Events

DECA’s Principles of Business Administration Events measure the student’s proficiency in those knowledge and skills identified by career practitioners as common academic and technical content across marketing, finance, hospitality, and business management and administration. The Principles of Business Administration Events are designed for first-year DECA members who are enrolled in introductory-level principles of marketing/business courses.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Principles of Business Management & Administration

PBM

 The business situation will use language associated with careers in Administrative Services, Business Information Management, General Management, Human Resources Management, and Operations Management.

Principles of Finance

PFN

 The business situation will use language associated with careers in Accounting, Banking Services, Business Finance, Insurance and Securities, and Investments.

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

PHT

 The business situation will use language associated with careers in Hotels, Restaurants, and Tourism and Travel.

Principles of Marketing

PMK

 The business situation will use language associated with careers in Marketing Communications, Marketing Management, Marketing Research, Merchandising and Professional Selling.

Team Decision Making Events

DECA’s Team Decision Making Events provide an opportunity for participants to analyze one or a combination of elements essential to the effective operation of a business in the specific career area. The business situation to be analyzed will be presented as a case study.
Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Business Law & Ethics Team Decision Making

BLTDM

 For the purposes of this event, business law is U.S. law and will include contracts, product liability, employment and types of business ownership. The ethics component involves evaluating competing social values that may reasonably be argued from either side.

Buying & Merchandising Team Decision Making

BTDM

 Employees in buying and merchandising positions get the product into the hands of the customer. This process includes forecasting, planning, buying, displaying, selling and providing customer service.

Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making

ETDM

 Entrepreneurship includes the ability to recognize opportunities and to act on them, determine needs, identify markets, utilize marketing research, identify sources of capital and use management skills.

Financial Services Team Decision Making

FTDM

 Financial services refer to services offered in the finance industry by financial institutions. Concepts include understanding the source and purpose of financial statements, the impact of management decisions on statements, and the analysis and interpretation of data for planning purposes.

Hospitality Services Team Decision Making

HTDM

 Hospitality services include marketing and management functions and tasks that can be applied in hotels, motels, lodging services, related convention services, and related food and beverage services.

Marketing Management Team Decision Making

MTDM

 Marketing management includes marketing and management functions and tasks that can be applied broadly in a non-retail marketing environment.

Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making

STDM

 Sports and entertainment marketing includes marketing functions and tasks that can be applied in amateur or professional sports or sporting events, entertainment or entertainment events, selling or renting of supplies and equipment (other than vehicles) used for recreational or sporting purposes, products and services related to hobbies or cultural events, or businesses primarily engaged in satisfying the desire to make productive or enjoyable use of leisure time.
Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making

TTDM

 Travel and tourism includes marketing and management functions and tasks that can be applied in enterprises engaged in passenger transportation, travel service, attracting and serving the traveling public, arranging tours or acting as independent ticket agencies, and other services incidental to the travel or tourism industry.

Individual Series Events

DECA’s Individual Series Events effectively measure students’ proficiency in the knowledge and skills identified by occupational practitioners as essential to success in a given career. Participants receive recognition for achievement in each role-play scenario and in the series as a whole.
Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Accounting Applications

ACT

 Students will be challenged to perform management functions and tasks focusing on the application of financial data to business planning, including collection and organization of data, development and use of reports, and analysis of data to make business decisions. Concepts include understanding the source and purpose of financial statements, the impact of management decisions on statements, and the analysis and interpretation of data for planning purposes.

Apparel & Accessories Marketing

AAM

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in retail establishments, wholesale establishments and/or manufacturing firms primarily engaged in the marketing of clothing and related articles for personal wear and adornment.

Automotive Services Marketing

ASM

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks related to auto dealers, service stations and related businesses or auto parts stores.

Business Finance

BFS

 Financial services refer to services offered in the finance industry by financial institutions. Concepts include understanding the source and purpose of financial statements, the impact of management decisions on statements, and the analysis and interpretation of data for planning purposes.

Business Services Marketing

BSM

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing functions and tasks involved in providing services to businesses on a fee or contract basis or providing services to consumers.

Entrepreneurship

ENT

 Students will be challenged to perform the ability to recognize opportunities and to act on them, determine needs, identify markets, utilize marketing research, identify sources of capital and use management skills.

Food Marketing

FMS

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in retail establishments, wholesale establishments and manufacturing firms resulting in the sale of food.
Hotel and Lodging Management

HLM

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in hotels, motels, lodging services, convention services, and food and beverage services.
Human Resources Management

HRM

 Students will be challenged to perform management functions and tasks focusing on staffing, recruitment, selection, training, performance appraisal, compensation and safety training.
Logistics/Materials Handling LOG

Along with a multiple choice test related to Logistics, the role play scenario will use language based on materials handling and logistics.

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Marketing Communications

MCS

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing communications and functions and tasks that inform, persuade, or remind a target market of ideas experiences, goods or services.
Quick Serve Restaurant Management

QSRM

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in retail establishments, wholesale establishments and manufacturing firms primarily engaged in the quick-serve restaurant industry.
Restaurant and Food Service Management

RFSM

Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in a full-service restaurant or a food-service business.
Retail Merchandising

RMS

Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks that can be applied in any retail establishment.
Sports and Entertainment Marketing

SEM

 Students will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks related to amateur or professional sports or sporting events, entertainment or entertainment events, selling or renting of supplies and equipment (other than vehicles) used for recreational or sporting purposes, products and services related to hobbies or cultural events, or businesses primarily engaged in satisfying the desire to make productive or enjoyable use of leisure time.

Personal Financial Literacy Event

DECA’s Personal Financial Literacy Event measures the personal finance knowledge and skills that K-12 students should possess. The Personal Financial Literacy Event is designed to measure the student’s ability to apply reliable information and systematic decision making to personal financial decisions. The Personal Financial Literacy Event is designed for DECA members who are enrolled in personal finance and financial literacy courses.
Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Personal Financial Literacy

PFL

 Students will be assessed on their knowledge of areas such as: financial responsibility and decision making, income and careers, planning and money management, credit and debt, risk management and insurance, and saving and investing.

Business Operations Research Events

DECA’s Business Operations Research Events provide opportunities for participants to demonstrate knowledge and skills needed by management personnel. Students conduct actual research studies in their communities.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Business Services Operations

BOR

 Business Services includes human resources, information technology and personal and contracted services businesses.

Buying and Merchandising Operations

BMOR

 Buying and Merchandising includes retail and wholesale businesses that provide consumer goods.

Finance Operations

FOR

 Finance includes banks, credit unions, accounting, investments and other financial businesses.

Hospitality and Tourism Operations

HTOR

Hospitality and Tourism includes hotels, restaurants and tourism-related businesses.

Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations

SEOR

 Sports and Entertainment Marketing includes businesses that conduct sporting and/or entertainment events.

Project Management Events

DECA’s Project Management Events require participants to use project management skills to initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control, and close a project.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Business Solutions Project

PMBS

 The Business Solutions Project uses the project management process to work with a local business or organization to identify a specific problem with the current business operations and implement a solution. Examples include talent acquisition, employee on-boarding, policies and procedures, technology integration, customer service improvement, safety operations, marketing and promotion activities, and productivity and output enhancement.

Career Development Project

PMCD

 The Career Development Project uses the project management process to promote/educate the knowledge and skills needed for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship. Examples include career fairs, summer boot camps, professional dress seminars, résumé development workshops, career exploration initiatives, mock interviews, educational paths, career paths, workplace re-entry and mentor programs.

Community Awareness Project

PMCA

 The Community Awareness Project uses the project management process to raise awareness for a community issue or cause. Examples include day of service, distracted driving, driving under the influence, bullying, disease awareness, mental health awareness, drug awareness, ethics, environmental and green issues, and vaping. 

Community Giving Project

PMCG

 The Community Giving Project uses the project management process to raise funds or collect donations to be given to a cause/charity. Examples include food bank donations, homeless shelter donations, 5K’s, sports tournaments, auctions, banquets, item collections, holiday drives, adopt a families, etc.

Financial Literacy Project

PMFL

 The Financial Literacy Project uses the project management process to promote the importance of financial literacy, including spending and saving, credit and debt, employment and income, investing, risk and insurance and financial decision making. Examples include organizing and implementing seminars for students (elementary, middle, high and post-secondary), tax preparation assistance, retirement planning, and student loan workshops.
Sales Project

PMSP

The Sales Project uses the project management process to raise funds for the local DECA chapter. Examples include sports tournaments, t-shirt sales, 5K’s, school merchandise sales, catalog sales, sponsorship development initiatives, fashion shows, pageants, restaurant nights, value cards, and yearbook sales.

Entrepreneurship Events

DECA’s Entrepreneurship Events provide opportunities to explore entrepreneurial concepts from idea generation, business planning, to growing an existing business.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Business Growth Plan

EBG

 The Business Growth Plan involves the idea generation and strategy development needed to grow an existing business. Participants in the Business Growth Plan will analyze their current business operations and identify opportunities to grow and expand the business.

Franchise Business Plan

EFB

 The purpose of the Franchise Business Plan Event is designed for participants to present a comprehensive business plan proposal to buy into an existing franchise. The participant seeks to become a franchisee.

Independent Business Plan

EIB

 The Independent Business Plan Event involves the development of a comprehensive proposal to start a new business. Any type of business may be used.

Innovation Plan

EIP

 The Innovation Plan Event involves the idea generation and opportunity recognition needed to take advantage of market opportunities to introduce a new business, product or service. Any type of business, product or service may be used.

International Business Plan

IBP

 The International Business Plan Event involves the development of a proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting. Any type of business may be used.
Start-Up Business Plan

ESB

The purpose of the Start-Up Business Plan Event is to provide an opportunity for the participant to develop and present a proposal to form a business. The event provides an opportunity for a participant to develop and demonstrate mastery of essential knowledge and skills as they apply to the analysis of a business opportunity.

Integrated Marketing Campaign Events

DECA’s Integrated Marketing Campaign Events provide opportunities for members to develop an integrated marketing campaign of no more than 45 days in length for a real event, product or service and present the campaign in a role-play situation.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Event

IMCE

 Integrated Marketing Campaign—Event includes a campaign that is related to any sports and entertainment event and/or company event. Examples include concerts, festivals, fairs, tournaments, pet adoption day, charity events, etc. 

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Product

IMCP

Integrated Marketing Campaign—Product includes a campaign that is related to any hard/soft line retail products including e-commerce. Examples include apparel and accessories, retail products, etc.

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service

IMCS

Integrated Marketing Campaign—Service includes a campaign that is related to any service or intangible product. Examples may include pet services, golf lessons, health care services, salons, restaurants, amusement parks, etc.

Professional Selling and Consulting Events

DECA’s Professional Selling and Consulting Events provide an opportunity for participants to demonstrate skills needed for a career in sales and/or consulting. Participants will organize and deliver a sales presentation or consultation for one or more products/services/customers.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Financial Consulting

FCE

 For 2022-2023 you will assume the role of a financial consultant to a local bank or credit union. The bank or credit union is looking to close some of its brick-and-mortar locations and transition more of its services to an online/virtual platform. The bank or credit union is seeking your recommendation on what services could be transitioned to an online-only banking platform without compromising customer service to its customers.

Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling

HTPS

For 2022-2023 you will assume the role of a sales representative for a technology firm that specializes in touchless technology integration. A local amusement park owner has scheduled a meeting with you to discuss how to implement touchless customer options and learn about the types of products that can be integrated into their company to benefit their business.

Professional Selling

PSE

For 2022-2023 you will assume the role of a sales representative of a virtual human resource firm that specializes in employee accountability. Since the pandemic, the company is allowing workers to work remotely and is looking for a solution to hold employees accountable for their workload. The chief operations officer of a major company has scheduled a meeting with you because he/she is interested in using your services to ensure accountability in the virtual workplace.: For 2022-2023 you will assume the role of a sales representative of a virtual human resource firm that specializes in employee accountability. Since the pandemic, the company is allowing workers to work remotely and is looking for a solution to hold employees accountable for their workload. The chief operations officer of a major company has scheduled a meeting with you because he/she is interested in using your services to ensure accountability in the virtual workplace.

Online Events

DECA’s Online Events provide opportunities for students to participate in online simulations to learn how to invest in the stock market, manage personal finances, or operate a business venture.

Event Career Cluster & Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

Stock Market Game

SMG

 Participants in the Stock Market Game develop and manage an investment portfolio. Each participating team manages all aspects of the portfolio including stock selection, buying and selling. The goal of the competition is to increase the value of the beginning portfolio.

Virtual Business Challenge – Accounting

VBCAC

In the VBC Accounting track, participants will use forensic accounting to identify fraud & errors and use managerial accounting techniques to maximize profits. Participants will analyze accounting documents such as T-accounts, worksheets, journals & the general ledger as well as source documents such as time sheets, customer invoices, pay records and more in order to identify issues.

Virtual Business Challenge – Entrepreneurship

VBCEN

In the VBC Entrepreneurship track, participants will conduct market research, spot new business opportunities and take the plunge by embarking on their very own entrepreneurial venture with 20 different businesses to choose from. Participants will implement new business strategies via requesting financing, building their team, acquiring resources, setting prices, developing their marketing and more. Participants will analyze market data, interpret financial reports and apply critical thinking and decision making skills in order to make their entrepreneurial venture as successful as possible.

Virtual Business Challenge – Fashion

VBCFA

In the VBC Fashion track, participants will scour runway and street blogs for emerging and viral fashion trends; manage marketing, business and fashion-specific concepts such as design, buying, pricing and markdowns, social media promotion, window display and merchandising within their own fashion design business; and interpret actions, charts and reports, such as the Income Statement and the “Instatrend” report in order to make strategic marketing decisions for their fashion business to optimize profitability.

Virtual Business Challenge – Hotel Management

VBCHM

In the VBC Hotel Management track, participants will manage various aspects of a hotel such as determining room rates, making bids on group sales and setting front desk and housekeeping staffing schedules. Participants will monitor their competitors, analyze various reports and financial information as well as keep a close watch on ratings and social media feedback.

Virtual Business Challenge – Personal Finance

VBCPF

In the VBC Personal Finance track, participants will manage bank accounts, credit and debit cards, bills, credit scores, taxes, insurance and investing. Participants will interpret actions, charts and graphs to make strategic financial decisions and optimize net worth.

Virtual Business Challenge – Restaurant

VBCRS

In the VBC Restaurant track, participants will manage specific marketing and business concepts such as market research, menu design and pricing, advertising strategies and purchasing within a restaurant. Participants will interpret actions, reports and financial information in order to make strategic marketing decisions for their restaurant to optimize profitability.

Virtual Business Challenge – Retail

VBCRT

In the VBC Retailing track, participants will manage specific marketing concepts such as pricing, purchasing and promotion within a convenience store. Participants will interpret actions, charts and graphs in order to make strategic marketing decisions for their store to optimize profitability.

Virtual Business Challenge – Sports

VBCSP

 In the VBC Sports track, participants will manage specific marketing concepts such as ticket pricing, media planning and sponsorships within a football franchise. Participants will interpret actions, charts and graphs in order to make strategic marketing decisions for their franchise to optimize profitability.

State Only Events

Pennsylvania DECA’s State-Only Events build on DECA’s Competitive Events Program to provide students with additional competitive event opportunities.

Event Acronym Description District Event State Event ICDC Event

DECA Quiz Bowl

DQB

Along with taking the Marketing Cluster Exam to determine which team goes first, this game style event with teams comprise of 2 – 4 members will answer marketing type questions.

Job Interview

JOB

Each participant will bring a resume, then fill out an application and go through 2 interviews during the competition.

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Modeling (Male & Female)

MOD

Each male and female participant will model a business suit and a formal outfit.  Participants will also complete a commentary card for each outfit.

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Public Speaking Event

PSPK

Each participant will give a 5-minute speech as well as hand in a manuscript.

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School Based Enterprise Event

SBE

This event consists of 10-min presentation.  One or two members will explain how their school-based enterprise achieves the instructional area and performance indicators.

Materials Handling Written Event

MHE

Each participant will prepare a written paper and then will be asked to meet with a panel of judges and demonstrate occupational proficiency in the material handling area.

Chapter Awards

CAP

Chapters will claim credit for activities by submitting a notebook consisting of activity reports and visual documentation from the past year.

Chapter Banner Event

CBE

Each team will be provided with one white banner that is 8ft long and 3ft wide and prepare a banner featuring this year’s state theme.

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Digital Advertising Event

DAE

This event will help students learn how to advertise a designated product with the use of technology.  Students will improve their advertising, marketing, and creative skills while creating a professional video.

Prepare for Competition

Find competitive event guides, sample case studies, and mock presentations!

Competitive Event Resources